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Polish Forces, Italy 1944<br />
“For this action let the lion spirit enter your hearts, keep deep in your heart God, honour and our land — Poland! Go<br />
and take revenge for all the suffering in our land, for what you have suffered for many years in Russia and for years of<br />
separation from your families!” ~ General Anders, addressing the troops before Monte Cassino.<br />
2nd Polish Corps Formation<br />
General Wladislaw Sikorski, the head of the Polish<br />
government in exile in London negotiated with the Soviet<br />
government to free the Poles detained in the USSR to form<br />
a new army. After the agreement was signed in 1941 two<br />
new Polish infantry divisions were formed. Major General<br />
Wladislaw Anders, a former prisoner, was appointed to<br />
command the new army. In December 1941 it was decided<br />
to expand the Polish army to six divisions, of which 25,000<br />
was transferred to the west. A move to Iran started in March<br />
1942, with a further contingent in August.<br />
Now in the Middle East, the Poles went through a phase of<br />
reorganisation and training leading to a new title of Polish<br />
Army in the East. The Independent Carpathian Rifle<br />
Brigade, which had served with distinction at Tobruk and<br />
the Western Desert, became the 3rd Carpathian Rifle<br />
Division. Other new formations were the 5th “Kresowa”<br />
Infantry Division, the 2nd Armoured Brigade and the 2nd<br />
Artillery Group. In June 1943 the force was re-designated<br />
the 2nd Polish Corps. At the Quebec conference in August<br />
1943, Churchill decided to send the 2nd Polish Corps to<br />
Italy.<br />
In July and august of 1943, the 2nd Polish Corps moved to<br />
Palestine for final training. This consisted of manoeuvres in<br />
the mountainous regions to climatize the troops to the<br />
terrain they would encounter in Italy.<br />
Due to manpower shortages, both divisions were comprised<br />
of only two infantry brigades. The 3rd Division had the 1st<br />
and 2nd Carpathian Rifle Brigades, and the 5th Division<br />
had the 5th “Wilenska” and the 6th “Lwowska” Infantry<br />
Brigades.<br />
The rest of the divisional order of battle followed along<br />
British lines, i.e. 3 field artillery regiments, 1 anti-tank and<br />
1 anti-aircraft artillery regiment, 1 reconnaissance regiment<br />
– 12th “Podolski” Lancers in the 3rd Division and the 15th<br />
“Poznanski” Lancers in the 5th Division and all the other<br />
support and service units of an infantry division. The<br />
Corps’s 2nd Armoured Brigade consisted of 3 armoured<br />
regiments and supporting units.<br />
Replacing battle causalities became a severe problem for<br />
the Polish high command. The Polish infantry suffered<br />
heavy causalities, especially at Cassino. This caused<br />
commanders to scrape the bottom of the barrel for<br />
replacements, due to the Polish Government’s policy of<br />
deploying the corps together. To solve this problem,<br />
reinforcements were enlisted from Poles who had been<br />
forced into the service of the German army and been<br />
recaptured by the Allies. This allowed units to maintain a<br />
level of strength to continue combat operations. Apart from<br />
replacing losses, this rather unconventional method also<br />
reinforced the 2nd Corps. An additional third brigade was<br />
formed for both infantry divisions, which was in line with<br />
the British order of battle. The 2nd Armoured Brigade was<br />
reinforced to become an armoured division in 1945. A new<br />
armoured brigade, the 14th “Wielkopolska”, and other new<br />
regiments were also formed. To support the operations of<br />
the 2nd Polish Corps was the 2nd Base Corps. This unit<br />
consisted of the 7th Infantry Division as a training reserve,<br />
an army training centre, four general hospitals and various<br />
support and service units.<br />
Polish<br />
The Poles Arrive in Italy<br />
Elements of the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Division began<br />
landing at Taranto on 21 December 1943. The transfer of<br />
all Polish units from Egypt and the Middle East continued<br />
until the middle of April 1944. These troops landed at the<br />
Italian ports of Taranto, Bari and Naples, which had been<br />
captured by the Allies. The 2nd Polish Corps was followed<br />
by 2nd Base Corps. The first Polish unit to see action in<br />
Italy was the Independent Commando Company. On 29<br />
December 1943, it took part in a diversionary raid with No<br />
9 Commando on the Gariglianio river estuary defences.<br />
Under the command of the 8th Army, Lieutenant General<br />
Wladislaw Anders led his fellow exiles of the 2nd Polish<br />
Corps with dash and determination. After the death of<br />
General Sikorski, Anders became the main influence of
Poles in Italy<br />
Polish hopes. To his countrymen he was an inspiration, and<br />
to his allies he was a military leader whose ability<br />
commanded the greatest respect.<br />
Gustav Line<br />
The Allied armies hoped to be in Rome by December of<br />
1943, and Churchill had assured Alexander “You will be in<br />
Rome by the end of the year”. A combination of weather,<br />
difficult going and skilful German defence had slowed the<br />
Allies advance to a crawl. Since 21 November 1943 Field<br />
Marshal Kesselring was appointed C-in-C Army Group C,<br />
a brilliant commander whose skill, imagination and<br />
flexibility in defence caused the Allies great difficulty. By<br />
December 1943, the defences of the Gustav Line had halted<br />
Alexander’s drive on Rome.<br />
The Gustav Line was the German main defence line in<br />
Italy, with Monte Cassino as its central point. It crossed the<br />
Italian peninsula at its narrowest and most mountainous<br />
region, where the mountains extended from the Tyrrhenian<br />
Sea in the west to the Adriatic Sea in the east.<br />
The first offensive against the Gustav Line started on 4<br />
January 1944 with US and French forces unable to break<br />
through by the beginning of February. The Indians and<br />
New Zealanders replaced the Americans for a new offensive<br />
on 15 February from Cassino to take Monte Cassino. Bad<br />
weather halted the attempt. The Germans replaced their<br />
15th Panzer Grenadier with the 1st Parachute Division<br />
during this period in the Cassino sector. For three months<br />
the Allies had been held at Monte Cassino, with every<br />
attack repulsed by the German paratroopers. Thus it was<br />
decided to outflank the monastery and not frontally assault<br />
it. The third offensive started on 15 March, which was<br />
preceded by an aerial bombardment aimed at total<br />
destruction of the monastery and the town of Cassino. This<br />
attack too had failed by 22 March.<br />
The 4th Battle of Cassino<br />
The 2nd Polish Corps was assigned to launch the fourth<br />
assault on the monastery, from the northern flank. The<br />
offensive started on the night of 11/12 May with the 5th<br />
“Kresowa” Infantry Division’s, 5th “Wilenska” Rifle<br />
Brigade to assault Saint Angelo hill, Points 706, 601 and<br />
575. This attack failed with heavy loses due mainly to<br />
German artillery. General Anders withdrew the division to<br />
its start line on the night of 12 May. The 3rd Carpathian<br />
Rifle Division’s, 1st Carpathian Rifle Brigade was to assault<br />
Point 593 (Mt Calvary) and Albaneta Farm. This attack<br />
succeeded at the start by taking Point 593 by surprise.<br />
However on 12 May the German paratroopers repeatedly<br />
assaulted the Polish defenders no less than four times. After<br />
desperate defence, the Poles were forced to withdraw.<br />
General Anders now had both divisions back at the start<br />
line. Both divisions attacked again four times on 13 and 14<br />
May. Another attack on 16 May by 6th “Lwowska” Rifle<br />
Brigade on the right and 2nd Carpathian Rifle Brigade on<br />
the left succeeded in capturing Point 593, Albaneta Farm<br />
and other German strongpoints near the monastery. On 18<br />
Poles raise their flag above the ruins of the Monte Cassino Monastery.
Poles in Italy<br />
May the 12th “Podolski” Lancers reached the monastery<br />
and hoisted the Polish flag. The Poles continued fighting<br />
until 25 May, when the positions of Saint Angelo hill, Point<br />
575, Passo Corno and Mount Cairo were captured. Eight<br />
hundred Polish soldiers had been killed in the battle.<br />
On the Adriatic Coast<br />
After the battles of Monte Cassino, the 2nd Polish Corps<br />
was deployed on the Adriatic coast. On 15 June the 3rd<br />
Carpathian Rifle Division replaced the 4th Indian Division<br />
and this sector now came under command of the 2nd Polish<br />
Corps. The 2nd Polish Corps headquarters was located at<br />
San Vito near Ortona. Additional British units also arrived<br />
to bolster the strength of the 2nd Polish Corps. The 17th<br />
and 26th Heavy Artillery Regiments Royal Artillery, the<br />
7th Queens Own Hussars and other units were placed under<br />
command of the 2nd Polish Corps. The 5th “Kresowa”<br />
Infantry Division arrived between 18 and 21 June, followed<br />
by the 2nd Polish Corps artillery and the 2nd Armoured<br />
Brigade.<br />
The Poles moved fast up the Adriatic coast and by 20 June<br />
were at the Aso River. As they advanced, stiffer German<br />
resistance was encountered around the Chienti River. This<br />
held up the Pole’s offensive temporarily, and by 6 July had<br />
captured Osini, which was only 10 miles south of the port<br />
Ancona. After a fierce battle the town was captured on 18<br />
July. On 19 July the Poles crossed the Esimo River, and<br />
encountered strong German opposition near Ostra. The<br />
Germans had brought part of the 71st Infantry Division and<br />
the 1st Fallschirmjager Division into this sector. It was<br />
another ten days before they reached the next river, the<br />
Misa. Another battle developed for the town of Senigallia.<br />
On 11 August, the Cesano River was crossed and by 22<br />
August the 2nd Polish Corps was across the Metauro River.<br />
This brought them to the edge of the Gothic Line.<br />
The Gothic Line<br />
The Allies now reorganised their forces before the<br />
impending assault on the Gothic Line. The 2nd Polish<br />
Corps was on the extreme right flank of the Adriatic coast,<br />
with the 1st Canadian Corps on its left. Operation Olive,<br />
the break-through in the Adriatic sector began on the night<br />
25/26 August. The 2nd Polish Corps opened the offensive,<br />
capturing the high ground north of the resort of Pesaro.<br />
Their task complete, the 2nd Polish Corps now withdrew to<br />
become a reserve force. After a short period of rest the 2nd<br />
Polish Corps returned to the battlefield and occupied<br />
Predappio, which was the birthplace of Mussolini, and<br />
Castrocaro on 27 October. The Poles bypassed Faenza,<br />
crossed the Lamone River and captured the town of<br />
Brisighella on their way to the Senio River. All operations<br />
ceased by the end of December 1944.<br />
Reorganisation<br />
During the period from October 1944 to January 1945, the<br />
2nd Polish Corps was reinforced and reorganised. The 3rd<br />
Carpathian Rifle Division and the 5th “Kresowa” Infantry<br />
Division had the 3rd Carpathian Rifle Brigade and the 4th<br />
“Wolynska” Rifle Brigade added respectively. The 2nd<br />
Armoured Brigade was reinforced into an armoured<br />
division with the addition of the Carpathian Lancer<br />
Regiment, 2nd Motorised Commando Battalion, 16th<br />
“Pomorska” Infantry Brigade, 4th Armoured Regiment<br />
“Skorpion”, 1st “Krechowieckich” Lancer Regiment and<br />
the 6th Armoured Regiment “Dzieci Lwowskich”.<br />
In January 1945 the Italian front was at a standstill. The 8th<br />
Army, after a series of hard fought river crossings stood on<br />
the banks of the Senio River. The country was sodden from<br />
winter rains and armoured operations were impossible.<br />
A Stab in the Back<br />
In early March 1945 General McCreery commander 8th<br />
Army, met with General Anders. During this discussion of<br />
the battle plan, Anders learned of the terms of the Yalta<br />
Agreement. It meant Poland would be handed over to a<br />
Communist regime to be a satellite state of the Soviet<br />
Union. General Anders said, “How can I ask my soldiers to<br />
go on fighting. I must withdraw them from the line.” To<br />
which McCreery said, “There were no troops to replace<br />
them and a 10 mile gap would be opened up.” Anders<br />
remained silent for a minute and said “You can count on the<br />
Polish 2nd Corps for this coming battle. We must defeat<br />
Hitler first.”<br />
The Final Offensive<br />
The final offensive to break the stalemate on the Italian<br />
front was scheduled for the night of 9 April 1945. The 2nd<br />
Polish Corps, spearheaded by the 3rd Carpathian Rifle<br />
Division attacked over the Senio River, north of the Via<br />
Emilia (Highway 9) towards Bologna. By 14 April the town<br />
of Imola was captured. At this point the Poles were<br />
confronted by their old enemy, the German 1st Parachute<br />
division. The Polish attack was so successful that the<br />
German 1st Fallschirmjager Division was completely<br />
disintegrated. The divisional flag was eventually presented<br />
to General Anders as a trophy. Bologna fell to the 3rd<br />
Carpathian Rifle Division on the morning of 21 April.<br />
Victory was declared in Italy on 2 May 1945.<br />
Polish<br />
Polish Special Rules<br />
The Polish forces in Italy were trained and organised along<br />
British lines and use the following British Special Rules:<br />
Carry On, Sergeant, Night Attack, Advance Under<br />
Darkness, Semi-indirect Fire, Eight-gun Batteries,<br />
Rounds on the Ground and Mike Target.<br />
For Your Freedom and Ours<br />
The Poles display remarkable bravery in combat, often<br />
pushing on to take objectives when any other men would of<br />
turned back.<br />
Polish Platoons fight to the last and may re-roll failed<br />
Platoon Morale Checks. If you are fielding a Polish<br />
Company, your Company Command team may re-roll<br />
Company Morale Checks.
KOMPANIA PIECHOTY<br />
(Infantry Company)<br />
A force based around a Kompania Piechoty must contain:<br />
• 1 Company HQ, and<br />
• 2 or 3 Piechoty Platoons.<br />
Weapons Platoons available to a Kompania Piechoty are:<br />
• 0 to 4 Carrier Patrols,<br />
• 0 to 1 additional Piechoty Platoon,<br />
• 0 to 1 Mortar Platoon,<br />
• 0 to 1 Anti-tank Platoon, and<br />
• 0 to 1 Pioneer Platoon.<br />
Support Platoons for a Kompania Piechoty can be:<br />
• 0 to 2 Machine-gun Platoons (p. 7),<br />
• 0 to 1 Heavy Mortar Platoon (p. 7),<br />
• 0 to 1 Armoured Platoon, or British Armoured<br />
Platoon (p. 59 Festung Europa, Italian Veteran) with:<br />
3 Sherman III or V (255 points). Arm any or all<br />
Sherman tanks with a 0.5 cal AA MG for +5 points.<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
0 to 1 Polish Recce Platoon,<br />
0 to 1 Sapper Platoon,<br />
0 to 2 Field Artillery Batteries,<br />
0 to 1 Self-propelled Anti-tank Platoon, or Divisional<br />
Anti-tank Platoon, and<br />
0 to 1 Light Anti-aircraft Platoon.<br />
You may have up to two Support Platoons attached to<br />
your company for each Piechoty Platoon you field.<br />
Motivation and Skill<br />
No solider is more motivated to fight the Germans than the<br />
Pole. While adequately equipped and armed by their<br />
British Allies, the soldiers of II Corps had seen little<br />
combat until being transferred to Italy in 1944. What they<br />
lack in training, they makeup for in bravery. A Kompania<br />
Piechoty is rated as Fearless Trained.<br />
HEADQUARTERS<br />
1 Company HQ<br />
KAPITAN<br />
KAPITAN<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PIECHOTY PLATOON<br />
PIECHOTY PLATOON<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PIECHOTY PLATOON<br />
KOMPANIA PIECHOTY<br />
Headquarters<br />
Company HQ<br />
30 points<br />
Options<br />
• Add Jeep or Troop Carrier for +5 points<br />
• Add up to three Sniper teams for<br />
+50 points per team.<br />
The core unit of the II Corps, the Polish Infantry<br />
company is modelled on the British system. A<br />
Kompania Piechoty is tough on offence, tougher<br />
on defence, and capable of achieving the difficult<br />
with the right leadership.<br />
Poles make theri way through the mountains of Italy.
Kompania Piechoty<br />
COMBAT Platoons<br />
2 or 3 Piechoty Platoons<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
3 Rifle Squads 160 points<br />
2 Rifle Squads 125 points<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PIAT team<br />
There are a few veterans of previous wars<br />
sprinkled through the Piechoty platoons, and with<br />
their lessons, British arms, and Polish bravery,<br />
the soldiers of the platoons will soon be on their<br />
way back to Poland, the Germans fleeing before<br />
them.<br />
KAPRAL<br />
KAPRAL<br />
KAPRAL<br />
WEAPONS Platoons<br />
PIECHOTY PLATOON<br />
Polish<br />
0 to 4 Carrier Patrols<br />
Platoon<br />
3 Universal Carrier 85 points<br />
• Arm any or all Universal Carriers with an<br />
extra hull-mounted MG for +5 points per<br />
carrier or 0.5” MG for +10 points per<br />
carrier.<br />
• Replace up to one extra hull-mounted MG<br />
with a Boys anti-tank rifle or PIAT antitank<br />
projector at no cost.<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SIERZANT<br />
CARRIER SECTION<br />
CARRIER PATROL<br />
Scout Patrols equipped with Universal<br />
Carriers are Reconnaissance Platoons.<br />
Although the terrain often wasn’t suited for<br />
mobile warfare, Poles made excellent use of<br />
Carrier and Scout Car Patrols.<br />
Although purchased as separate platoons, all<br />
of your Scout Patrols deploy as a single<br />
platoon at the same time. For example, this<br />
means that you treat all Scout Patrols as a<br />
single platoon when calculating the number<br />
of platoons held in Ambush or Reserve.<br />
0 to 1 Piechoty Platoon<br />
Following British doctrine, additional rifle platoons were sometimes attached to support other companies.<br />
An additional Piechoty Platoon is organised exactly like those above.
Kompania Piechoty<br />
0 to 1 Mortar Platoon<br />
Observer<br />
Rifle team<br />
SIERZANT<br />
PIAT team<br />
Mortar Carrier Mortar Carrier<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Troop Carrier<br />
Observer<br />
Rifle team<br />
SIERZANT<br />
PIAT team<br />
Mortar Carrier Mortar Carrier<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
3 Mortar Sections 195 points<br />
2 Mortar Sections 135 points<br />
1 Mortar Section 75 points<br />
Options<br />
• Add PIAT teams for +15 points per team.<br />
• Add Troop and Mortar Carriers to the<br />
platoon at no cost.<br />
The new ML 3” Mark II mortar is a big<br />
improvement over the old Mark I. Its increased<br />
range allows it to match the German weapons<br />
and cover a greater area. Added to the new<br />
mortar carriers, the mortar platoons are set to<br />
give the infantry immediate support, wherever<br />
and whenever needed.<br />
Observer<br />
Rifle team<br />
PIAT team<br />
Mortar Carrier<br />
Mortar Carrier<br />
0 to 1 Anti-tank Platoons<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
Troop Carrier<br />
HQ SECTION<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SIERZANT<br />
6 pdr gun Lloyd Carrier 6 pdr gun Lloyd Carrier<br />
6 pdr gun Lloyd Carrier 6 pdr gun Lloyd Carrier<br />
ANTI-TANK SECTION ANTI-TANK SECTION<br />
ANTI-TANK PLATOON<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
2 Anti-tank Sections 135 points<br />
1 Anti-tank Section 75 points<br />
The British 6 pounder is and improvement over<br />
what Poland had in 1939, and while not effective<br />
against newer German tanks, it is still a<br />
dangerous weapon in the right hands.<br />
The anti-tank gunners have the new tracked<br />
Lloyd Carrier to tow the gun into battle, giving<br />
it a good pace cross-country.
Kompania Piechoty<br />
0 to 1 Pioneer Platoon<br />
Platoon<br />
Pioneer Section with:<br />
2 Assault Squads 85 points<br />
1 Assault Squad 65 points<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
Option<br />
• Replace 15 cwt truck with an M5 halftrack<br />
for +5 points.<br />
KAPRAL<br />
KAPRAL<br />
The engineers of II Corps are imoprtant against<br />
the German defensive lines of Italy. German<br />
obstacles and fortifications do not last for long<br />
when they are around.<br />
You may replace up to one Pioneer Rifle<br />
team with a Flame-thrower team at the start<br />
of the game before deployment.<br />
0 to 2 Machine-gun Platoons<br />
SUPPORT Platoons<br />
Polish<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
2 Machine-gun Sections 145 points<br />
1 Machine-gun Section 80 points<br />
Options<br />
• Add PIAT team for +15 points.<br />
• Add Troop Carrier and MMG Carriers for<br />
+5 points for the platoon.<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PIAT team Troop Carrier<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Vickers HMG MMG Carrier Vickers HMG MMG Carrier<br />
Polish HMG teams are just as capable as their<br />
British counterparts, and like them can use their<br />
weapons in either direct or indirect fire mode.<br />
Vickers HMG<br />
MMG Carrier<br />
Vickers HMG<br />
MMG Carrier<br />
0 to 1 Heavy Mortar Platoon<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
2 Mortar Sections 170 points<br />
1 Mortar Section 95 points<br />
Options<br />
• Add PIAT team for +15 points.<br />
• Add Troop Carriers and Lloyd Carriers to<br />
the platoon at no cost.<br />
Although few in numbers, the Heavy Mortar<br />
platoons are quickly gaining a reputation for quick,<br />
accurate fire support. In the moutains of Italy,<br />
where longer ranged indirect fire is hard for the<br />
artillery somedays, the Heavy Mortars are essential<br />
support for the Kompania.<br />
Observer<br />
Rifle team<br />
4.2” mortar 4.2” mortar<br />
Lloyd Carrier<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Lloyd Carrier<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PIAT team<br />
Troop Carrier<br />
Troop Carrier<br />
4.2” mortar 4.2” mortar<br />
Lloyd Carrier<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Lloyd Carrier
ROZPOZAWCZY SZWADRON<br />
(Reconnaissance Mechanised Company)<br />
A force based around a Rozpozawaczy Szwadron must<br />
contain:<br />
• 1 Company HQ, and<br />
• 2 or 3 Recce Platoons.<br />
Weapons Platoons available to a Rozpozawaczy Szwadron<br />
are:<br />
• 0 to 1 Assault Platoon,<br />
• 0 to 1 Mortar Platoon, and<br />
• 0 to 1 Anti-tank Platoon.<br />
Support Platoons for a Rozpozawaczy Szwadron can be:<br />
• 0 to 1 Armoured Platoon, or British Armoured<br />
Platoon (p. 59 Festung Europa, Italian Veteran) with:<br />
3 Sherman III or V (255 points). Arm any or all<br />
Sherman tanks with a 0.5 cal AA MG for +5 points.<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
0 to 1 Piehoty Platoon,<br />
0 to 2 Machine-gun Platoons (p. 7),<br />
0 to 1 Heavy Mortar Platoon (p. 7),<br />
0 to 1 Field Artillery Battery,<br />
0 to 1 Light Anti-aircraft Platoon.<br />
You may have up to one Support Platoon attached to your<br />
company for each Rozpozawaczy Platoon that you field.<br />
Motivation and Skill<br />
Poland has one of the best and most noble cavalry<br />
traditions in all of Europe, from the Winged Hussars of<br />
King Jan to the Uhlans of Napoleon. While the Armoured<br />
Car has only recently supplanted the horse, the esprit and<br />
valor of the Polish Cavalry is not in doubt. A Rozpozawaczy<br />
Szwadron is rated as Fearless Trained.<br />
HEADQUARTERS<br />
1 Company HQ<br />
KAPITAN<br />
KAPITAN<br />
Headquarters<br />
Company HQ<br />
30 points<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
ROZPOZAWCZY SZWADRON<br />
The infantry division’s recce regiment leads the<br />
way, scouting ahead and locating the enemy’s<br />
weaknesses and strengths, probing for the soft<br />
spots. This intelligence is gathered and reported<br />
back in preparation for an attack on the enemy.<br />
The platoons operate on a wide and scattered<br />
front as they probe forwards. They must be<br />
careful not to be drawn into a sustained fight, a<br />
fight they can’t win. They leave the hard fighting<br />
to the division’s riflemen.<br />
The Company Command team of a<br />
Rozpozawaczy Szwadron is a Recce Team.
RECCE SQUADRON<br />
2 or 3 Rozpoznawczy Platoons<br />
COMBAT Platoons<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Armoured Car with:<br />
2 Recce Sections 175 points<br />
1 Recce Section 110 points<br />
Options<br />
• Add Scout Patrols for +85 points per patrol.<br />
• Arm any or all Universal Carriers with an<br />
extra hull-mounted MG for +5 points per<br />
carrier or 0.5” MG for +10 points per carrier.<br />
• Replace up to one extra hull-mounted MG<br />
with a Boys anti-tank rifle or PIAT antitank<br />
projector at no cost.<br />
The Recce Patrol and Scout Patrols operate<br />
as separate platoons, each with their own<br />
Command team. Although its sections count<br />
as separate platoons for all other purposes, a<br />
Rozpoznawczy Platoon deploys all at the<br />
same time as a single platoon. For example,<br />
this means that you treat the entire<br />
Rozpoznawczy Platoon as a single platoon<br />
when calculating the number of platoons held<br />
in Ambush or Reserve.<br />
Recce and Scout Patrols are Reconnaissance<br />
Platoons.<br />
Humber IV<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
RECCE SECTION<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
Command Humber IV<br />
HQ ARMOURED CAR<br />
Humber IV<br />
RECCE PATROL<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SIERZANT<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
RECCE SECTION<br />
ROZPOZAWCZY PLATOON<br />
Polish<br />
WEAPONS Platoons<br />
0 to 1 Assault Platoon<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
4 Assault Squads 160 points<br />
3 Assault Squads 130 points<br />
2 Assault Squads 100 points<br />
Options<br />
• Add PIAT team for +15 points.<br />
• Replace all 15 cwt trucks with White<br />
Scout Cars or M5 half-tracks for +5 points<br />
for the platoon.<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Pioneer<br />
MG team<br />
SIERZANT<br />
15cwt<br />
truck<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PIAT team<br />
Pioneer<br />
MG team<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SIERZANT<br />
15cwt<br />
truck<br />
0 to 1 Mortar Platoon<br />
The Mortar Platoon is shown on page 6.<br />
Pioneer<br />
MG team<br />
15cwt<br />
truck<br />
Pioneer<br />
MG team<br />
15cwt<br />
truck<br />
0 to 1 Anti-tank Platoon<br />
ASSAULT PLATOON<br />
The Anti-tank Platoon is shown on page 6.
DIVISIONAL SUPPORT<br />
Your force may have the following support platoons:<br />
• Sapper Platoons,<br />
• Field Artillery Batteries,<br />
• Armoured Platoons,<br />
• Self-propelled Anti-tank Platoons,<br />
• Divisional Anti-tank Platoons, and<br />
• Light Anti-aircraft Platoons.<br />
Motivation and Skill<br />
The divisional troops supporting Piehoty are all old hands<br />
who long ago ‘got their knees brown’ from the harsh desert<br />
sun. All Divisional Support Platoons are rated as Fearless<br />
Trained unless otherwise noted.<br />
Air Support<br />
Aircraft Priority Air Support Limited Air support<br />
Typhoon 220 points 170 points<br />
Hurricane II C 165 points 140 points<br />
Kittyhawk 160 points 130 points<br />
0 to 1 Sapper Platoon<br />
SIERZANT<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
4 Sapper Sections 145 points<br />
3 Sapper Sections 115 points<br />
2 Sapper Sections 80 points<br />
Option<br />
• Add Pioneer Supply truck for +25 points.<br />
When you deploy your force at the start of<br />
a game you may elect to replace a Sapper<br />
Platoon with a Piechoty Platoon of the<br />
same or lower points value.<br />
SAPPER SECTION<br />
SAPPER SECTION<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SAPPER SECTION<br />
SAPPER SECTION<br />
SAPPER PLATOON<br />
Sappers are crucial to the advance. By clearing<br />
mines, repairing bridges and roads, and other<br />
German obstacles, they help II Corps stay on the<br />
heels of its German enemies. They know their<br />
value lies in what the do to the battlefield, not on<br />
it, and they will often withdraw rather than fight.<br />
Their fellow Poles do not begrudge them this<br />
though, knowing that the road to Poland would<br />
be much harder to travel if the Sappers were not<br />
there to clear it.<br />
Sapper Platoons may not launch assaults, nor<br />
may they Counterattack if assaulted. Sapper<br />
Platoons will always attempt to Break Off at<br />
the earliest opportunity.<br />
10
DIVISIONAL SUPPORT<br />
0 to 2 Field Artillery Batteries<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Troop with:<br />
Two Gun Troops with a total of:<br />
4 Gun Sections 330 points<br />
One Gun Troop with:<br />
2 Gun Sections 190 points<br />
1 Gun Section 120 points<br />
KAPITAN<br />
KAPITAN<br />
Options<br />
• Add 15 cwt trucks and Quad tractors at<br />
no cost<br />
• Replace the HQ Troop jeep with a White<br />
scout car for +5 points.<br />
SIERZANT<br />
OP Carrier<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Polish artillerymen have been well trained by<br />
their British allies, and are just as competent in<br />
handling their weapons as their Allies. The Poles<br />
have a surfeit of Artillery weapons, and will put<br />
them to good use when they are needed.<br />
Although a Field Artillery Battery is a single<br />
Support choice, each Gun Troop operates as a<br />
separate platoon with its own Command<br />
team. The HQ Troop Command team and<br />
Staff team are Independent teams. If the HQ<br />
Troop Command team joins a Gun troop, it<br />
becomes the Platoon Command Team.<br />
Although they count as separate platoons for<br />
all other purposes, an Field Artillery Battery<br />
deploys as a single platoon, all at the same<br />
time. For example, both Gun Troops are<br />
treated as a single platoon when calculating<br />
the number of platoons held in Ambush or<br />
Reserve.<br />
KAPITAN<br />
KAPITAN<br />
OP Carrier<br />
Polish<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SIERZANT<br />
11
DIVISIONAL SUPPORT<br />
0 to 1 Armoured Platoon<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Sherman tank<br />
TANK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
Command Sherman tank<br />
HQ TANK<br />
ARMOURED PLATOON<br />
KAPRAL<br />
Sherman tank<br />
TANK<br />
Platoon<br />
3 Sherman III 240 points<br />
Options<br />
• Arm any or all Sherman tanks with a 0.5 cal<br />
AA MG for +5 points per tank.<br />
While not the equivalent of some German tanks,<br />
the Shermans of the 2nd Armoured Brigade are<br />
more than a match for many of them. With all<br />
the Firefly’s being needed for the upcoming<br />
invasion of France the Poles in Italy didn’t get<br />
any until after February 1945.<br />
Polish Sherman parked next to a British Staghound armoured car.<br />
0 to 1 Self-propelled Anti-tank Platoon<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Command M10 3”SP<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
SIERZANT<br />
M10 3”SP<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
2 Anti-tank Sections 290 points<br />
1 Anti-tank Section 145 points<br />
The Poles had 24 M-10’s, which were part of the<br />
7th Self-propelled Anti-tank Regiment.<br />
M10 3”SP<br />
M10 3”SP<br />
SELF-PROPELLED ANTI-TANK PLATOON<br />
12
DIVISIONAL SUPPORT<br />
0 to 1 Divisional Anti-tank Platoon<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
2 Anti-tank Sections 135 points<br />
1 Anti-tank Section 75 points<br />
Option<br />
• Replace all 6 pdr guns and Lloyd Carriers<br />
with 17 pdr guns and M5 half-tracks for<br />
+45 points per Anti-tank Section.<br />
When the companies own anti-tank assets may<br />
not be enough, the guns of the division are often<br />
added to help out.<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
Troop Carrier<br />
HQ SECTION<br />
SIERZANT<br />
SIERZANT<br />
6 pdr gun Lloyd Carrier 6 pdr gun Lloyd Carrier<br />
6 pdr gun Lloyd Carrier 6 pdr gun Lloyd Carrier<br />
ANTI-TANK SECTION ANTI-TANK SECTION<br />
ANTI-TANK PLATOON<br />
0 to 1 Light Anti-aircraft Platoon<br />
Platoon<br />
HQ Section with:<br />
2 Gun Sections 150 points<br />
1 Gun Section 85 points<br />
Option<br />
• Replace all Bofors 40mm guns and AA<br />
tractors with Oerlikon 20mm SP at no<br />
cost, or with Bofors 40mm SP for<br />
+35 points per Anti-aircraft Section.<br />
While the wail of Stukas and other German<br />
Machines are no longer as prevalent, they still<br />
make sorties from time to time. With it’s light<br />
anti-aircraft guns, the Divisional Anti-aircraft<br />
Platoon is quite capable of keeping the skies<br />
over the Infantry clear of enemy planes.<br />
SIERZANT<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
PORUCZNIK<br />
SIERZANT<br />
Polish<br />
Poles advance around the hills of Monte Cassino.<br />
13
ARSENAL<br />
POLISH ARSENAL<br />
TANK TEAMS<br />
Armour<br />
Name Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes<br />
Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower<br />
Medium Tanks<br />
Sherman III Fully-tracked 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Tow hook.<br />
M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Semi-indirect fire, Smoke.<br />
Self-propelled Anti-aircraft Guns<br />
Oerlikon 20mm SP Wheeled - - -<br />
Oerlikon 20mm gun 16”/40cm 4 5 5+ Anti-aircraft.<br />
Bofors 40mm SP Wheeled - - - Awkward layout.<br />
Bofors 40mm gun 24”/60cm 4 6 4+ Anti-aircraft.<br />
Self-propelled Anti-tank Guns<br />
M10 3” SP Fully-tracked 4 2 0 .50 cal AA MG.<br />
M7 3” gun 32”/80cm 2 12 3+ Slow traverse.<br />
Reconnaissance<br />
Universal Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0 Hull MG.<br />
With Boys anti-tank rifle 16”/40cm 2 4 5+ Hull-mounted<br />
With PIAT anti-tank projector 8”/20cm 1 10 5+ Hull-mounted<br />
With .5” MG 16”/40cm 3 4 5+ Hull-mounted<br />
Humber LRC III Jeep 0 0 0 Turret Front MG.<br />
Boys anti-tank rifle 16”/40cm 2 4 5+<br />
Armoured Cars<br />
Humber IV Wheeled 1 0 0 Co-ax MG.<br />
M5 37mm gun 24”/60cm 2 7 4+<br />
Vehicle Machine-guns<br />
Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 1 if other weapons fire.<br />
.50 cal Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 4 5+ ROF 1 if other weapons fire.<br />
GUN TEAMS<br />
Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes<br />
Vickers HMG Man-packed 24”/60cm 6 2 6 ROF 2 when pinned down.<br />
Firing bombardments 40”/100cm - - -<br />
ML 3” Mk II mortar Man-packed 40”/100cm - 2 6 Smoke bombardment.<br />
ML 4.2” mortar Light 48”/120cm - 3 4+ Smoke bombardment.<br />
Bofors 40mm gun Immobile 24”/60cm 4 6 4+ Anti-aircraft, Turntable.<br />
OQF 6 pdr gun Medium 24”/60cm 3 10 4+ Gun shield.<br />
OQF 17 pdr gun Immobile 32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Gun shield, No HE.<br />
OQF 25 pdr gun Heavy 24”/60cm 2 9 3+ Gun shield, Smoke, Turntable.<br />
Firing bombardments 80”/200cm - 4 5+ Smoke bombardment.<br />
Aircraft<br />
Aircraft Weapon To Hit Anti-tank Firepower Notes<br />
Typhoon Cannon 3+ 8 5+<br />
Rockets 3+ 6 3+<br />
Hurricane IIC Cannon 3+ 8 5+<br />
Bombs 4+ 5 2+<br />
Kittyhawk MG 3+ 6 5+<br />
Bombs 4+ 5 2+<br />
14
INFANTRY TEAMS<br />
Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes<br />
Rifle team 16”/40cm 1 2 6<br />
Rifle/MG team 16”/40cm 2 2 6<br />
MG team 16”/40cm 3 2 6<br />
SMG team 4”/10cm 3 1 6 Full ROF when moving.<br />
Light Mortar team 16”/40cm 1 1 4+ Smoke, Can fire over friendly teams.<br />
PIAT team 8”/20cm 1 10 5+ Tank Assault 4.<br />
Staff team cannot shoot Moves as a Heavy Gun team.<br />
Additional Training and Equipment<br />
Pioneer teams are rated as Tank Assault 3.<br />
Polish<br />
Polish Machine-gun team.<br />
TRANSPORT TEAMS<br />
Armour<br />
Vehicle Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes<br />
Jeep Jeep - - -<br />
CMP 15 cwt or 3-ton truck Wheeled - - -<br />
Quad or Morris AA tractor Wheeled - - -<br />
White scout car Jeep 1 0 0<br />
M5 half-track Half-tracked 1 0 0<br />
Troop, OP, Mortar, or Lloyd Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0<br />
MMG Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0 HMG Carrier, Passenger-fired hull MG.<br />
15
2nd Polish Corps Order of Battle 1944-1945<br />
Corps Headquarters<br />
5th “Kresowa” Infantry Division<br />
12th “Podolski” Lancer Regiment<br />
Headquarters<br />
7th Armoured Regiment<br />
4th “Wolynska” Rifle Brigade<br />
7th Anti-tank Regiment<br />
10th, 11th, 12th Infantry Battalion<br />
7th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment<br />
5th “Wilenska” Rifle Brigade<br />
8th Medium Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment<br />
13th “Rysiow”, 14th “Zbikow”,<br />
1st Artillery Survey Regiment<br />
5th “Wilkow” Infantry Battalion<br />
663 AOP<br />
6th “Lwowska” Rifle Brigade<br />
2nd Artillery Group Headquarters<br />
16th, 17th, 18th Infantry Battalion<br />
9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th Medium Artillery<br />
5th Machine Gun Battalion<br />
Regiments<br />
25th “Wielkopolska” Lancer Regiment<br />
2nd Corp Engineer Group Headquarters<br />
4th, 5th, 6th Light Artillery Regiment<br />
10th, 20th Engineer Battalion<br />
5th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment<br />
11th Railway Engineer Battalion<br />
5th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment<br />
11th Signal Battalion<br />
5th “Kresowa” Rifle Division Engineer Battalion<br />
2nd Corp Military Police Group<br />
5th “Kresowa” Rifle Division Signal Battalion<br />
Various service units including Transport, Medical,<br />
Ordinance, Electrical & Mechanical Engineers,<br />
Geographic, Legal, Pay etc.<br />
2nd “Warszawska” Armoured Division<br />
(Formed late 1944)<br />
Headquarters<br />
2nd Armoured Brigade<br />
4th Armoured Regiment “Skorpion”<br />
1st “Krechowieckich” Lancer Regiment<br />
6th Armoured Regiment “Dzieci Lwowskich”<br />
2nd Motorised Commando Battalion<br />
16th “Pomorska” Infantry Brigade<br />
64th, 65th, 66th Infantry Battalion<br />
16th Support Company<br />
2nd Armoured Division Artillery<br />
7th Horse Artillery Regiment<br />
16th “Pomorska” Light Artillery Regiment<br />
2nd Anti-tank Regiment<br />
2nd Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment<br />
Carpathian Lancer Regiment<br />
9th Tank Replacement Squadron<br />
2nd Armoured Division Engineers<br />
2nd Armoured Division Signal Battalion<br />
3rd Carpathian Rifle Division<br />
Headquarters<br />
1st Carpathian Rifle Brigade<br />
1st, 2nd, 3rd Infantry Battalion<br />
2nd Carpathian Rifle Brigade<br />
4th, 5th, 6th Infantry Battalion<br />
3rd Carpathian Rifle Brigade<br />
7th, 8th Infantry Battalion,<br />
9th “Bolonski” Infantry Battalion<br />
3rd Machine Gun Battalion<br />
7th “Lubelskich” Lancer Regiment<br />
1st, 2nd, 3rd Light Artillery Regiment<br />
3rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment<br />
3rd Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment<br />
3rd Carpathian Rifle Division Engineer Battalion<br />
3rd Carpathian Rifle Division Signal Battalion<br />
14th “Wielkopolska” Armoured Brigade<br />
Headquarters<br />
15th “Poznanski” Lancer Regiment<br />
3rd “Slaskich” Lancer Regiment<br />
10th Hussars Regiment<br />
14th Tank Replacement Squadron<br />
14th Engineer Company<br />
14th Signal Squadron<br />
2nd Base Corps<br />
7th Infantry Division<br />
Headquarters<br />
17th Infantry Brigade<br />
21st, 22nd, 23rd Infantry Battalion<br />
17th Machine Gun Company<br />
17th Artillery Regiment<br />
17th Engineer Company<br />
17th Signal Company<br />
Army Training Centre<br />
Chief Instructor Office (Arms)<br />
Special Courses<br />
Infantry School<br />
Artillery School<br />
Signal School<br />
Wireless School<br />
Chief Instructor Office (Services)<br />
ASC School<br />
Ordnance School<br />
EME School<br />
Administration School<br />
Armoured Corp Training School<br />
School of Engineering<br />
Polish Wing CMTC<br />
16